



                                WHY SWITZERLAND?


                    Switzerland has long served as a magnet for the
               money of wealthy foreigners who perceive the world as
               buffeted by over-taxation, over-regulation and
               political turmoil. They are attracted, of course, by
               the confidentiality and discretion that have been a
               hallmark of Swiss bankers since the French Revolution,
               when they offered financial refuge to French
               aristocrats.
                    Banking in Switzerland, a land of few natural
               resources, has been immensely lucrative. Operating in a
               country less than half the size of Maine, Swiss banks
               control more than $400 billion in assets, making the
               country the third-largest financial center in the
               world.
                    For people with money to protect -- whether a
               little or a lot -- Switzerland is traditionally
               considered the world's safest repository. These days,
               the Swiss can give Americans many reasons to leave
               funds in Switzerland  But the promise of total secrecy
               in financial matters remains one of the greatest
               attraction of Swiss banks.

